THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510280336
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
The National Park Service released a report Friday outlining proposed renovations for the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
The presentation came at a meeting of the state's First Flight Centennial Commission, the 25-member panel formed to plan the 100th anniversary of Orville and Wilbur Wright's first powered flight. The yearlong celebration climaxes with the centennial observance on Dec. 17, 2003.
Rich Sussman of the park service outlined five proposals, but was quick to caution that the report was only a draft. Public hearings and input from the First Flight Commission and other entities would be considered before recommendations are adopted.The report is expected to be finished next October.
Among the proposals:
Minor renovations,including refurbishing the Wright Memorial. This would be part of what Sussman called a ``Band-Aid'' approach.
Construction of a new visitors' center. It would be 12,000 to 15,000 square feet, and would contain a museum, an exhibit room using state-of-the art interactive technology and a glider room. In peak season, between 3,500 and 4,000 people visit the Wright Memorial each day. The visitors center would provide flexibility to accommodate large crowds.
Other variations include moving the memorial entrance from U.S. 158 to Colington Road, and moving the visitors' center and parking to park service property on Colington Road. Shuttles would be used to transport visitors.
A lack of state and federal money is forcing the First Flight Commision and its fund-raising arm, the First Flight Centennial Foundation, to look at ways to pay for the facelift.
One idea is to issue a bank card, with portions of each transaction fee going to the renovation. The North Carolina-based BB&T, with 425 branches throughout the state, is doing marketing surveys for the proposed card.
Also, a commemorative coin similar to one used to celebrate the Ellis Island centennial is being considered. The item will be discussed at the commission's next meeting in December.
Park service officials said it was premature to speculate on costs for the refurbishing effort.
Established by Congress in 1927, the Wright Brothers National Memorial is located on a 431-acre site. An estimated 500,000 people visit the park annually.
In other business, commission Chairman Melvin Daniels appointed a four-member task force to study the establishment of a federal First Flight commission. Wilkinson ``Wick'' Wright, a grand-nephew of the Wright Brothers, and Ohio's representative on the North Carolina panel, urged the formation of a national panel.
``I think we have to have a federal commission,'' Wright said. ``I think North Carolina and Ohio should take the lead. If we don't do it, someone else will. We have the opportunity to take a leadership role and shape any legislation that is passed.''
Wright said members of Ohio's Capitol Hill delegation from both parties support the centennial effort.
``I know that there is some feeling that we aren't going to get anything out of Congress,'' Wright said. ``We are not as pessimistic in Ohio as you are down here.''
The commission approved its new logo, to be used on stationery and other materials.
The panel received $100,000 from the North Carolina General Assembly.
That money, along with funds left from last year, will go to establish offices in Raleigh and on the Outer Banks. The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources has agreed to supply an administrator to the commission at no cost.
The commission will meet Dec. 15 and 16 on the eve of the annual observance of the Wright Brothers' triumph.
KEYWORDS: ANNIVERSARY by CNB